My Trip to Dudleytown

Well, I finally got there! My wife and I left on vacation on the 25th of June 1999, at 5 (zzzzzz) a.m. from San Antonio and made to Nashville at 11 P.M.. The next morning we left at 6 (zzz) am and arrived at my son's house at about 7 P.M.. (2,000 miles in 2 days! Not bad for an old man!) My son lives in Glasboro, New Jersey---as his wife is a Funeral Director, the house is----yes, a Funeral Home! (Should that have set the stage for the visit to Dudleytown? I think so!)

On June 30th, we left for Cornwall (remember now, Dudleytown WAS NOT a real town) about 8 in the morning, and arrived at our meeting point in Kent at about 11:30. There, we were to meet our guides (whom I am happy to say are our friends) Nancy Ziegler and the famously infamous Robin Barron. In addition, Catherine Pond, a free-lance writer, joined us. Nancy and Barron are both members of the Cosmic Society for Paranormal Investigation--but for the record, they were not acting on behalf of the group---they were just doing us a large favor by leading us up there. I am glad they did. As you will see, the trip could have been either disastrous, boring, or at the least unsafe, if you do not know what you are doing or looking for.

As the boss (OOPS) the wife and I were parched, we had arranged to meet everyone at a small Italian Restaurant behind the train depot in Kent, and proceeded to down 2-3 glasses of Iced Tea while making all the usual introductions and small talk. Barron then placed two large volumes of pictures on the table, and showed us the many interesting and strange things they had witnessed in Dudleytown. We were setting the stage for our journey. We left for Cornwall after about an hour, and arrived at Dark Entry Road. Dark Entry DOES have a street sign (it is the usual size) Conveniently, there IS a parking area about 10 feet from it!

Let me say quickly--SHOULD THE DEF EVER OPEN DUDLEY AGAIN, NEVER, EVER, attempt to walk up Dark Entry at night! It was hard enough for me by day--it is a hike up a HILL---hard, stoney ground--and it would be MORE than dangerous at night---it would be totally crazy! Its paved for about half of it--the rest is the stony ground. (please note, where the pavement ends is the beginning of DEF property ) THERE ARE NO SIGNS pointing anywhere. You HAVE to know what you are looking for. If you do not know what to look for, then just go by day and hope you see some of the cellar holes. Which, by the way, along with the stone walls, are all that there is to see. Now on to my story.

Having arrived, and seeing what we were to do, we gathered in the parking area and had a word of prayer (my request--I never do anything without it), and the girls separated and opted to drive up Dudleytown Road (the alternate entry route) It is NOT designated Dudleytown road--it is marked Bald Mountain road). The advantages of Bald Mountain Road is that you can drive right into what is left of Dudleytown! The disadvantage is that all the residents see you coming, and there is only room for one vehicle to park and if it is not gone by dusk it gets towed--no questions asked! Again, no matter which way you go, if you do NOT know what you are looking for, you won't see anything! Anyway, up my son, Barron, me, and a friend of Nancy and Barron's named Craig, went!

If nothing else, this trip taught me that I am seriously out of shape! Barron, in his 60's, put me to serious shame! About a quarter of a mile up Dark Entry there is a tree that is hanging above the road (jutting out from the left side) in a very odd shape. Barron called it the "hound of the Dudleyvilles", and I must admit it does look that way. A little further is a tree bulging at the base that Barron said we should all pat for good luck. I blessed it. Then, because I was so out of breath from the walk, I patted it anyway! (hey, its now blessed, so who did it hurt?) Farther, there is a Ranger's house, and across from it what was identified as a Singing stars summer home ( I later found out that it wasn't). We bothered neither of the folks, and cross a tree blocking the road. At that point the pavement ended and the stony ground began. Again, this marks the beginning of DEF property.

Two things need to be said, and in one case restated. First, it was readily apparent why the road was called Dark Entry. The trees were really so thick that the road was dim all the way up---and it was PAST noon! Secondly, after the road ended, unless you had on hiking boots, you might as well forget it. I wore Air Force issued Alaskan Combat boots, and it was still rough! You MUST be careful up there! Thirdly, while the trees were thick, you could tell that the trees were (for the most part) less than 100 years old. Remember the history of the place--they were all cut down for the charcoal burners during the 1800's. We heard birds chirping, and saw a little wildlife all the way. (so, unfortunately, there goes the "silence all the time" statements we keep hearing about!)

Ok, up we went. Barron pointed out two meeting places that witches meet in for their rituals. While no hard evidence for this was present, I could see the possibilities of that reality. We crossed a dam (actually, we went right through it). This dam, I believe, was made (and it WAS man made) for one of the mills in the area. It has been dubbed "witches dam" by our guides. It is actually named "Marsella Falls", and appears so on the maps of the area. The stream going through it is Bonney Brook. After about one hours hike, we arrived at the junction of Dudleytown and Dark Entry Roads. There were no signs marking it, and if you do not look for it, you would never know. But we had arrived in Dudleytown!

I was in history heaven, and the MECCA OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY!! The "most haunted place on earth". What did I think??

What I thought was..."where did they get all these damn mosquitoes?"

You have to understand--I am a mosquito magnet......want to get rid of yours? Invite me over---they love me! Luckily, Nancy and Barron brought about 15 million cans of "Off" and other repellants, and after a period of spraying, we were off exploring!

There were (by my count) about 5 cellar holes (yes, into them I went), and numerous stone walls. Some of the walls were placed in such a way that you could tell they were built to enclose something---probably livestock, or for designating boundaries (for the charcoal burners or mills). The birds continued to chirp, and the mosquitoes continued to bite. We continued to explore.

There were a few odd tree formations---one had a rather large opening in it that you could see through (yes, I did!) It was a beautiful place--I loved it.

Then came the "Vortex".

The "Vortex" , as it has been explained to me, is the CENTER of the weird stuff in Dudleytown. Everyone, it seems, experiences something there. What is REALLY is, is Cook Road (see map elsewhere on the site). My wife, Catherine, and I couldn't wait! Nancy said that she would rather stay out, and Craig wasn't sure. I said "COOL, LETS GO!", and proceeded in. We stopped after about 15 minutes of hiking. I was just plain worn out by 3 hours of steady hiking. Not to mention that nothing had happened. Well, that's not quite true. Catherine and I got 3 more Mosquito bites. The birds were continuing to chirp (bet those dern things were just laughing at us!)

As the "Vortex" was only about 5 minutes to Dudleytown road, were the girls had parked the car, we returned there and went down the hill the easy way. Barron, my son, and Craig hiked back Dark Entry (Barron had lost his hat band) The hike DOWN was much easier, they said (I bet it was!).

We journeyed into Cornwall and looked at the remains of the old Missionary school--which is right next to the 1st Congregational church, and then returned to Kent for a well needed supper!

I can not say enough of a THANK YOU to Barron and Nancy. They were wonderful! Craig too (whom I promised some San Antonio Jalapeno's to. hehehe, good luck!) So did I take pictures?

YOU BET. You will see them here too, as soon as I get them developed and scanned. I VIDEOTAPED IT ALSO! And now the most important question of all.....................

No. I really didn't expect to. You see, I don't think Dudleytown is haunted. I stated that various places here within the site. Nancy and Barron know that. Everyone does. Yes, I believe in the paranormal---just not there. And think about this--A DUDLEY in DUDLEYTOWN......jeese, if there was anything to it--it really should have happened! So am I disappointed? NO! I LOVED IT! And if I am in the area again, I WILL return!

Just not at night!